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Westcott, William H., born at Oak Orchard, Orleans county, February 2, 1839, is a son of John, a native of Bow,
Devonshire, England, who was born August 12, 1810. In 1834 John Westcott came to America, and for a year lived
at Le Roy, N. Y. Coming to Orleans county in 1835 he settled at Oak Orchard. He was a shoemaker by trade. Mr. Westcott
removed to Albion, where he entered the employ of Mr. Close, who owned a tannery and shoe shop. Mr. Close soon
established Mr. Westcott in business at Hindsburg, where for ten years he did a prosperous business. In 1850 he
returned to England to visit friends, and on his return to this country purchased several acres of land in that
part of Clarendon known as the Brown School House District, where the family resided seven years. In 1858 he removed
to Clarendon village, and for eleven years carried on a boot and shoe business with David Wetherbee. In 1870 Mr.
Westcott removed to Holley, where he has since resided. He immediately engaged in the boot and shoe business, retiring
from active business in 1886. Our subject married, February 4, 1838, Mary Cook, and they have had three children:
William H., Thomas and Emeline. William H. married, May 6. 1873, Adelaide L. Peggs, of Clarendon. Thomas married
Alice V. Strickland, and they had two daughters, Julia and Adelaide. Emeline married Thomas H. Pierce, of Rochaster,
N. Y., and they have one son, John H. Mr. and Mrs. John Westcott celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage
in 1888. They were converted in 1842, and joined the Free Baptist Church of Olarendon. Mrs. Westcott died in 1891.
William H. was educated at Albion Academy and the Albany Normal School, and for several years was a teacher. Both
sons were in the civil war. Thomas, immediately after the firing on Fort Sumter, responded to the call for three
months men, enlisting is the 13th Regiment, N. Y. Volunteers, and participated in the battle of Bull Run. At the
close of his term of enlistment he returned home, but in August, 1862, both he and William H. enlisted in Colonel
Porter's regiment, 8th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, Company K. They were stationed for a time at Baltimore, going to
the front in 1864 just before the battle of Cold Harbor. In this battle Thomas received wounds, from which he never
fully recovered. He was appointed first sergeant of his company when organized, and in February, 1864, was promoted
to second lieutenant. For several years after the war he was mail agent between Rochester and Niagara Falls. He
became a partner with his father in the shoe business in 1870, the partnership existing until his death, April
3, 1874. William H. was made corporal upon his enlistment. In September, 1863, he was appointed quartermaster sergeant,
promoted second lieutenant December 2, 1864, and first lieutenant March 18. 1865. In June, 1865, he was transferred
to Company C, 4th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, was mustered out at Washington D. C, September 28, 1865. In the spring
of 1866 Mr. Westcott engaged in the hardware trade at Clarendon, continuing eight years. He is a Republican, and
was clerk of Clarendon, also deputy postmaster. In 1874, on the death of his brother, he removed to Holley and
became a partner with his father, retiring in 1886. He is a member of the G. A. R. and A. O. U. W.
From:
Landmarks of Orleans County, New York
Edited by: Hon. Isaac C. Signor
Assisted by: H. P. Smith and others
D. Mason & Co., Publishers
Syracuse, N. Y. 1894
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